Clock



CLOCK Filed July 1, 1941 M. LOEW 2,292,139 1 Patented Aug. 4, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

The present invention relates to a clock and more particularly to a novel form of clock including a novel spring pendulum.

Although it has been known in the art to provide clock pendulums with weights corresponding to various figures, these figures in general were swingable about an axis similar to the ordinary clock pendulum, and in general did not present as pleasing an efiect as a figure reciprocating in a vertical plane.

It has been discovered in accordance with the present invention that a clock mechanism could be satisfactorily regulated by means of a vertically reciprocating spring, and that when this spring was provided with a weight at its lower end corresponding to an animate figure which reciprocated in a vertical plane, the result was extremely pleasing and novel. i,

It is one of the objects of the present invention therefore to provide a clock with a vertically reciprocating pendulum weight corresponding in general figuration to an animate figure.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an animate figure at the lower end of a vertically reciprocating spring which is adapted to function as the regulating means for the clockwork mechanism.

The third object of the present invention is to provide a clockwork mechanism with a suitable spring pendulum having a relatively limited reciprocating movement in a vertical plane and adapted to lock and unlock the escapement mechanism of the clock.

The fourth object of the present invention is to provide a spring pendulum for a clock including a combined regulator and movement limiting means which is capable not only of changing the effective length of the spring but of preventing its contractile movement beyond a certain definite limit.

A fifth object of the present invention is to provide a clockwork mechanism with a relatively delicate vertically reciprocating spring pendulum mechanism including means to definitely limit the ultimate stretch and contractile movements of the spring thereof.

A sixth object of the present invention is to provide a reciprocating spring pendulum with a regulating mechanism including a spider engaging between the convolutions of the spring to shorten and lengthen the effective length thereof.

A seventh object of the present invention is to provide a spring pendulum for a clockwork mechanism with a means for regulating the effective length thereof including a spider engaged between the convolutions of the spring and also adapted to contact the clock casing to prevent the contractile motion of the spring beyond a certain definite limit.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description and drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a front elevation of a clock in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the casing of the clock with the cover and pendulum weight thereof removed.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the clock mechanism with the casing omitted.

Figure 4 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale of a portion of the regulating mechanism.

Figure 5 is a front elevation of the mechanism of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale of the spider for changing the effective length of the spring pendulum.

Figure 7 is a plane View of the spider of Fig-- ure 6.

Figure 8 is a perspective of the spring and hook member engaging the same.

Figure 9 is a plan View of the spring and supporting plate therefor.

Referring to the figures of the drawing and particularly to Figure 1 thereof, the clock constructed in accordance with the present invention is indicated in general at 10 and includes the usual face ll provided with an hour hand l2 and a minute hand l3. Depending from the clock casing and held thereon in a manner to be hereinafter described is a vertically reciprocating spring pendulum l4 adapted to support by means of a suitable clasp 15 a pendulum weight [6 having a configuration simulating that of a seated girl.

Referring in particular to Figure 2, it will be noted that the spring pendulum I4 is supported from a casing [1 by means of a supporting plate l8 shown in detail in Figure 9 and fastened to casing I! by screws I9. It will also be noted that the spring l4 projects through the lower end of the casing I! through an opening 20 and is fastened at its lower end to a plate 2| shown in detail in Figures 6 and 7. The lower end of the plate 2| is provided with a projecting rivet or pin 22 passing through a ring 23 which supports the clasp I5 as shown in Figure 2. The clasp IS in turn is provided with an eye 25 through which a cord 26 is passed which directly supports the animate figure previously described.

The clock mechanism, best shown in Figure 3, includes the usual frame plates 21 and 28, a

spring barrel 29 housing a spring (not shown) that is adapted to be wound in the usual manner by means of a squared shaft 30 which receives the usual winding key. Positioned on the shaft 30 is the conventional ratchet wheel 3|, coupled to rotate with a gear wheel 32 in the usual fashion. In other words, the gear wheel 32 and the ratchet wheel 3| are coupled by a pawl so that the ratchet wheel M can be moved independently of the gear wheel 32 in one direction for winding.

The gear wheel 32 constitutes the main driving gear for the clockwork mechanism which is of a conventional type and need not be described in detail here except to state that it functions conventionally to drive the shaft 33 adapted to carry the hands l2 and I3, and also drives a shaft indicated at 34 which carries for rotation therewith .a usual type of escapement wheel 35 provided with teeth 36. Cooperating with the teeth 36 to lock and unlock the clock movement is a pallet fork 31 provided with the pallets 38 as shown in particular in Figures 4 and 5. The pallets 38 cooperate with the teeth 36 to lock and unlock the escapement wheel 35. As shown in Figure 5, the escapement is in locked position. It is to be understood that wheel 35 will be permitted to ro tate in stepwise fashion as the pallet fork 31 reciprocates. The pallet fork is mounted on the shaft 39 suitably supported by the frame plates 2'! and 28. The shaft 39 carries, at the end thereof remote from the pallet fork 31, a lever 43 counterbalanced by a small weight 4i and having an enlarged section at its other end 42 adapted to carry a wire hook 43. The Wire hook 43 engages between the convolutions of the pendulum spring 14 in a manner shown in Figure 8, and it is to be understood therefore that reciprocating movement of the spring I4 in a vertical plane will correspondingly move the hook 43.

It is apparent therefore from the foregoing that as the spring l4 reciprocates upwardly and downwardly, the lever 40 will be correspondingly moved about the axis of the shaft 39, and that this movement will be transmitted through the shaft to the pallet fork 31 which will lock and unlock in stepwise fashion the escapement 35 to regulate the movement of the clockwork mechanism proper.

The amplitude and frequency of the reciprocating movement of the spring 14 may be varied by changing the effective length of the spring by means of a spider 44, best shown in Figures 6 and '7, and provided with the arms 45 extending between the convolutions of the spring I4.

The spider 44 is provided with a collar 45a which is provided with internal threads engaged with screw threads on a stem 46 which is fixed on the plate 21 previously described. The spider -44 may therefore be moved upwardly and downwardly on the stem 46 by rotating the same relative to the stem; and as it is moved towards and :away from the plate 2|, a lesser or correspond- :ingly greater number of convolutions of the spring 14 are confined between the spider 44 and the plate 2|. Since obviously the confined convolutions of the spring are not free to reciprocate this movement of the spider on the stem 46, it lengthens or decreases the effective reciprocatable length of the spring l4.

The spider 44 is also provided with a plurality of upwardly extending arms 41 which are turned inwardly at their upper ends and are adapted to prevent the fouling of the convolutions of the spring by the upwardly extending end of the stem 46. Extending from the upper end of the stem 46 is a short rod 48 provided with an opening 49 at its upper end adapted to receive a cord 50 which is attached to an eye 5|, supported by the casing I! of the clock. The purpose of the cord 50 is to definitely limit the expansion of the spring I4.

Obviously the pendulum of the present invention, being a preferably brightly colored pendulum, is extremely attractive to children. If the cord 50 were not provided to limit the stretch of the spring 14, the spring could be easily pulled out of shape or stretched above its elastic limit.

The arms 45 of the spider function to limit the compression of the spring. Thus the arms extend outwardly to a greater diameter than the size of the opening 26 as shown in Figure 2', and therefore will prevent the upward movement of the lower end of the spring 14. Here again this arrangement will definitely prevent damage to the rather delicate spring and the wire hook 43.

Referring to Figure '7, it will be noted that the lower end of the spring I4 is held on plate 2| by a number of arms 52 which are bent downwardly and then inwardly around the spring convolution. It will also be noted that the spring extends outwardly and upwardly from the plate 2| since the outer periphery of the plate is cut inwardly as shown in particular in Figure 7. The upper holding plate It for the spring I4 is also provided with a number of arms 53 which are bent inwardly over a convolution of the spring and is similarly cut away as shown in Figure 9.

I claim:

1. In a clock, an operating mechanism, including an escapement means and means to periodically unlock said escapement including a vertically oscillating spring, weight supporting means supported by the lower end of said spring, a vertical rod extending from said weight supporting means into the interior of said spring, a spider on said vertical rod having portions thereof extending between convolutions of said Spring and means to raise and lower said spider on said rod to render effective a greater or lesser number of spring convolutions.

2. In a clock, a casing, an opening in the bottom of said casing, an operating mechanism including an escapement means and means to periodically unlock said escapement including a vertically oscillating spring projecting through said opening, means to adjust the effective length of said spring supported at the lower end thereof, and means extending from said adjusting means adapted to cooperate with the bottom of said casing at said opening to definitely limit the upward movement of said spring.

MORITZ LOEW. 

